Illinois
Illinois is bordered by Wisconsin in the north; Lake Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky in the east; Kentucky and Missouri in the south; and Missouri and Iowa in the west. With a population of 12,671,821 (January 2020), Illinois is the sixth largest population, and the 25th largest land area of all U.S. states. The capital of Illinois is Springfield, but the biggest city is Chicago. Its governor is J. B. Pritzker, an American businessman, co-founder of the Pritzker Group, and a member of the Pritzker family that owns the Hyatt hotel chain.
The first Europeans to reach the area were French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet, who arrived in 1673. In 1717 Illinois became part of the Louisiana territory, a French colony, but in 1763 the French ceded the region to Britain. After the American Revolution, Illinois became a U.S. territory, and in 1818 it was declared the 21st state.
Because of its geographic position and its long north-south axis, Illinois has wide regional variations in temperature. Across the state, seasonal temperature variation also tends to be great, with typically cold, snowy winters and hot summers. Much of Illinois was once covered in prairie grass, earning the state its nickname. The diversified nature of its economy, strength in manufacturing, agriculture, finance, mining, transportation, government, technology, and services (including tourism) makes Illinois a microcosm of the national economy.
The state’s official snack food is popcorn, which can be served Chicago-style: with a mixture of cheese-covered and caramel-covered popcorn.
Illinois’ slogan is "the Land of Lincoln" because Abraham Lincoln lived there for 31 years. Today, visitors can see Lincoln’s home and his tomb in Springfield.
If you want information about your city in Illinois, click on the Illinois city names or Illinois town names below:
Complete List of Cities in Illinois
ELIZABETHTOWN
Elizabethtown is a Village in Hardin county with -500 inhabitants.
SHIPMAN
Shipman is a Village in Macoupin county with -1 000 inhabitants.
SADORUS
Sadorus is a Village in Champaign county with -500 inhabitants.
HETTICK
Hettick is a Village in Macoupin county with -500 inhabitants.
MAEYSTOWN
Maeystown is a Village in Monroe county with -500 inhabitants.
NEPONSET
Neponset is a Village in Bureau county with -1 000 inhabitants.
GRAND TOWER
Grand Tower is a City in Jackson county with -1 000 inhabitants.
ARLINGTON
Arlington is a Village in Bureau county with -500 inhabitants.
TONICA
Tonica is a Village in LaSalle county with -1 000 inhabitants.
MARSEILLES
Marseilles is a City in LaSalle county with -5 000 inhabitants.
DIETERICH
Dieterich is a Village in Effingham county with -1 000 inhabitants.
GALATIA
Galatia is a Village in Saline county with -1 500 inhabitants.
DAHLGREN
Dahlgren is a Village in Hamilton county with -1 000 inhabitants.
MOUNT AUBURN
Mount Auburn is a Village in Christian county with -1 000 inhabitants.
SAILOR SPRINGS
Sailor Springs is a Village in Clay county with -500 inhabitants.
EDGEWOOD
Edgewood is a Village in Effingham county with -1 000 inhabitants.
EDDYVILLE
Eddyville is a Village in Pope county with -500 inhabitants.
OLD SHAWNEETOWN
Old Shawneetown is a Village in Gallatin county with -500 inhabitants.
INDIANOLA
Indianola is a Village in Vermilion county with -500 inhabitants.
DAWSON
Dawson is a Village in Sangamon county with -500 inhabitants.
ENFIELD
Enfield is a Village in White county with -1 000 inhabitants.
ADELINE
Adeline is a Village in Ogle county with -500 inhabitants.
CANTRALL
Cantrall is a Village in Sangamon county with -500 inhabitants.
NEW BEDFORD
New Bedford is a Village in Bureau county with -100 inhabitants.
SOMONAUK
Somonauk is a Village in DeKalb county with -1 500 inhabitants.
BUCKNER
Buckner is a Village in Franklin county with -500 inhabitants.
ARENZVILLE
Arenzville is a Village in Cass county with -500 inhabitants.
BLUFORD
Bluford is a Village in Jefferson county with -1 000 inhabitants.
ASHLEY
Ashley is a City in Washington county with -1 000 inhabitants.
NEW CANTON
New Canton is a Town in Pike county with -500 inhabitants.